Alvin’s Weblog

I have not touched about this and I was just browsing through my photos. They brought me this nostalgic feeling. Anyway, it was in the year 2004 that I ventured down under to this small suburb city by the name of Toowoomba. No, I was not there for the fun of it, but I was there to complete my final year of studies.

I remembered how heavy my heart was when I thought about having to leave Kuching. The thought of having to be so far away from home not knowing the place I was going to, wasn’t exactly a pleasant idea. Anyhow, it was what I wanted and decided I would do.

So off I went on the 10th July 2004. I remembered talking to one of my female friend until dawn. It was very sweet of her to accompany me till dawn. After that long chat with her, I did my final packing, washed up and left for the airport at 4 a.m.

It was a very very nostalgic moment when I said my goodbyes to my family members. It’s always a hard thing to be separated from your loved ones. I was holding back my tears. Alas, a man has got to do what he has got to do.

The plane departed Kuching at 5.45 a.m. and arrived in KL at approx. 7.20 a.m. There I had to learn my way to get through the immigration counter and proceeded to the satellite international terminal. I was pretty anxious as this was my first time, talk about being a noob.

For the last hour at the airport, I was talking off with my parents before I left the Boleh Land. Coincidentally, I met a guy at the airport who was also going to the same uni as I did. Of course I didn’t know about it until we arrived in Australia. Anyhow, I exchanged smiles and a couple of words with him. We ended up as pretty good friends, even until today.

Off I went at 9.20 a.m. It was an excruciating 7 1/2 hours flight. Travelling alone and the thought of having to study there for a duration of period is so not cool. Life would have been easier if you ventured out with your best friend or something.

Fast forward 7 1/2 hours later, I landed safely at around 6.50 p.m. Brisbane local time. I was expecting a huge international airport to greet me, but… it was nothing to shout about. I proceeded to the immigration counter, had my passport stamped and I was officially let in to Queensland, the state of sunshine!

Off I went to collect my luggage. The sight of a few immigration officers in place with canines (or was it some other breed) intimidated me, somewhat. Anyway, I grabbed hold of my luggage minutes later and proceeded to the Green Lane, I wish. I actually had to go to the Red lane because I didn’t know if standard medicines were considered as dangerous drugs which needed to be declared. This whole process of getting out of the lounge took no less than 30 minutes.

Finally, after all the stringent process, I was let out and I didn’t know who to look for or who was waiting for me. You couldn’t imagine how releaved I was when I saw someone holding up the USQ Students banner! I quickly walked over like as if they were gonna leave me if I hadn’t.

USQ Representative: Hello! Are you coming to USQ?
Me: Yeap, I am…
USQ Representative: Welcome to Brisbane. May I know your name, please?
Me: It’s Alvin, Alvin Chong.
USQ Representative: Let’s see… Alven Ssshhoonng, was it? (10 seconds later) Alven, I can’t seem to find your name on my list
Me: (For a moment I was dumbfounded and was telling myself “Oh, f###!”)
USQ Representative: But that’s OK. We’ll bring you there.
Me: (Oh really?!?) Alright, thank you very much. :DDDDD

To be continued…

P/S: Happy Merdeka Day to all Malaysians. Enjoy your long weekends while you still can!